Claire Atherton: Growing the Image

For more than 40 years, Claire Atherton has approached editing not simply as a technical task of assembly but also as a creative collaborator with filmmakers. Drawing on 1980s political feminism and her study of Chinese philosophy, Atherton does not set out to simply tell a story but rather aims to create open-ended spaces where viewers can create their own connections. Atherton’s most significant creative relationship was with Chantal Akerman, whom she met through the actress Delphine Seyrig in 1984, and the two collaborated on many films, culminating in No Home Movie (2015), and more than 20 moving image installation works.

This series at the Walker celebrates Atherton’s long career with a selection of films she made with Akerman along with highlights from her work with other filmmakers, including Éric Baudelaire, Luc Decaster, Bani Khoshnoudi, and Maria Kourkouta. Atherton will be in person to introduce screenings during the series’ opening weekend programs, including for the screening of Akerman’s D’est from the Walker’s collection.